Monoplane



Patented VJuly 5, 19327Y ff 1,865,964l v UNITED;

` ADoLF ROHRBACH, oF BERLIN-wrtmnnsnonr, GERMANY,'lissrcrlvon` To ROHRBAGH I rarENfrscoRPonATroN,A'conroaATIoNoF DELAWARE' liroNorLAirn` A Appuaztionma September 19,1927, serial 110.226,342, and?inGmaayseptnteri,211192:22f 1 The connection vof the wings with the fuse lage'. of a monoplane is usually effected by making the wing spars extend continuously across the fuselage without reduction ofvver tical depth, the wing spars passing through the bottom or top of the fuselage or being located thereabove. The `method of construc tion involving the passage of the wing spars all the way through the Afuselage reduces substantially the effective height of the fuselage and the available space or room, which is particularly undesirable Vin commercial aircra-ft. p A lcorresponding, increase of the total height of the fuselage to compensate for this disadvantage would, of course, result in increased weight andair resistance. The :arrangement of the wing on the top'` of the fuselage valso results in an increase in weight and.Y

c greater air resistance,"although from a contype of construction which' is the strongest c structional'standpoint this method 'of construction is simpler and is superior to the construction wherein'the wings -pass allthe way through the fuselage, the latter involviing difficult connections at the point where the fuselage is pierced byf'thewing spars.

The disadvantages ofthe latter type of construction l are naturallyl greater with; wings having roots of great `depth,'I'1am'ely',''that and stiifest inproportionto the weight; f i

Monoplane lstructures 'are 4also known wherein the wings are attached to the sides of the'fuselage and for the purpose of reducing the free length are also provided with supporting and bracing struts which are con-Y nected at their outer ends.with 'theupper or A lower surface of the wing somewhere near the middle thereof with their inner ends leading to suitablepoints of the fuselage. This method of'construction has the disadvantagethat the strutsare rather long-and heavy, and at the same timeadd substantially to the head or airv resistance.

It has also been proposed in monoplane constructions to connect the winghalves to the fuselage with the botto-m surface of the Y wing substantially lon alevel with the top of the fuselage, and the thick wingsections pro-y truding up abovethe level ofthe fuselage This type of construction has the disadvan-y or root.

tage, kamong others 1thev aerodynamic efficienc'y at the' wing roots isex'tremely poor, f

YThe object V.ofthe inventionfisa monoplane V@ma Xthis is aggravated by Qtherjincidentai featuresof constructiony characteristic rof this' havingthe .wings attached to the side of the fuselage,ljgfith `*the-'upper `curvature of` the wings fairing'into'theintermediatefuselage f A part and'"particularly' a* monopl'ane wherein" the arejattached theffliSelagefby meansof a three-.pointrconnection includi'ng'-l y a directconnection'lor connections to the y'fusef ternal strutsare avoided' and an eiicient convergency ofthe air V'fljowflof bio'ththel wing halvesV over kthe fuselage is obtainedV thereby Y approachingthe ideal offa more'orfless el\. r

lipti'c distribution` of l the buoyancy n forces. The invention is particularly appllcablevto wings having "a pronounced tapentowards l their endsand a yrather thick .and deep'base lfor a better understanding ofthe inven- Ytion referencey maybe had. to the accompanying drawing'which shows more or less diay grammatically severalV modifications thereof f verticalsecti'onj and4 infront view, and' halveslV'j oinedto its slides, itbeing observed that thegupper surface of the wing merges 9o or fairs jin-to the-,top"pai"tofthe fuselage.,V I

The' wingfhalvesf b areobserved tohave Y thiclrrootsvr andare of the cantilever .typev Each of thewing halves Abjis connected. or-

joined to the fuselage'faifromthe p0intfs"c?v and idf located respectively on` the; upper andloweredges of they spars -e.` Therek 111W beJ as'mn'y Sparsas desired and4 inthe particularembodiment"shownthere are 'two 1, i

- spars, lthese spar-s'being disposed, 'for such j `C@ In the modification.Figfthewing fa example, as indicated in Figf2. YThe connecting points c are located at the extreme lnner upper edges of the wing spars and )accordingly thawing halves are connected -directly to the Vfuselage framemeinber by suitable fittings or joints at the points c,V

The points el are locatedashort distance away from 'the fuselage but still are positioned on thel wing roots, and accordingly insteadv of-being direct connected to the fuse.

lage from the lower side Vofthe wing the connections are effected by thekshort struts or ties f, theY latter being firmly connected l at theirk inner ends to lower points of the fuselage frame fas, for example,V the lower edgeof the fuselage, the struts f forming with the lines defined by the pointsfc and d a very favorableangl'e lfor the distributionof the forces. Inth'is modification the strut plane of each spar Y 'coincides with the planerformed by theconnecting points o, d, and' g.; Instead of ,connecting the struts f to the lowered@ 'eugefof the fuselage they may be connected at-,other convenient, points,

. always,. however,r maintaining theL proper angle-with the line defined by thepoints c andrai. For example, the struts f? maybe ...connected at points It on the side of the fuselage slightlyV above thebottom thereof or may be extended further on and connect-Y ed to thefuselage at points i on the bottom i Y as indicatedxin broken lines,Y the 1 bottom be- Y ing correspondingly `Vreinforced to carry the forces; s

The rigid ,triangle .formed inthe: points cfahand g'of each spar connection :(0, al7A h y.or c', el, i) transmits,therforces transverse toV the direction of` Hight. A'The Yforces actingV in the direction ofv flightbetween the fuse,

lage andthewing are transmitted through cnnectionso.= c Y a The tension occurring in the low spar girder is divided andtransmitted from the point '.d to therconnecting pointsfc77 and g. (hor Thus thesmall portion ofthe.

Y wing root lying betweenv the-fuselage 65? andvpoint or'points'rfcl can assume-the .form best' suited; for the purpose without regard` tol structural height of the wing r.root, :this

part of the -wing withfthisconstruction not ,being` called .upon to'transmit anyY substantial force.V VFor example instead kof having' thawing root thickness extending@ all the way tothe fuselage with ithe *lower surface of the wing` being continued to. the Vpoint 7c the lower surface may be :curved upwardly Vfrom lthe point d,as,l for eXamplaprepref sentedby the line ma so that kthe Aview i through the windows onthe side-wall ofthe fuselage Vis entirely. A unobstructed the f otherwise thiclrwing at this point. The

points 0?"and fd of the'spars may be connected by astraightv strut nwhichvtranssy mits the forces .by the shortestzpossible way.

is slightly of -trapezoidal form and as indi-` cated in dottedV lines theshort struts or ties f1 which correspond to the struts f of fuselage isfobtained byusing instead of the two struts,frvor fl'afsinglestruto, the latter being rigidly connected or joined to a' strong rod or strut p connecting .the fore and aft spaced points d on thebottom of the wing..

A In some cases itV maybe-advisable: as, for

example, for maintaining the prole of the wingto form the portion r of the wing root indicatedby dotted lines and lying under the line m as a supplementary. section or part which: is transparent `and permits of a ready outlook through the. side windows of the fuselage. For example, a simple frame with a transparent covering suiiiciently strong to resist the wind forces may be provided. Y

- The arrangement would be just the inverse Y (mirror reflection), if thewing were connected .tothe bottomofthe fuselage. The number of spars'in the wing is obviously not restricted to two. Alternatively the ydirectconnections of thewings to thefuselage may be atjthe bottom Whilethe indirect connections bythe struts may be' at the top. fl, .A1, I Having'now particularly,v described and .as-V certained the nature'of` my said invention and in what manner the saline is to be performech I declareth'at whatI claim is :e

11." In a monoplan'eiof a cantilever type the tothe sides thereof one side of the wingbeing connected directly to the fuselage and the otherside of the wing being connected to the f fuselage wholly exteriorly thereof by a short inclined s'trutwhich `is joined at one end to theY fuselage Vand at the Votherend to the wing root ata point located a short distance Afrom the fuselage in the direction of win g span.r

- 2. In a monoplane of fthe "character set ferth in claim l wherein the upper surface of the wing fairs into the topvof the fuselage. 3. A monoplane of the characterset forth combination of a fuselage withfwings joinedl 110 in claim l wherein the wing root is directly connected to the fuselage by a suitable fittingl disposed at the' inner end land upper edge of the spare `and is indirect-ly connected theretoby means of-short inclined struts lea-d-l .ingffrom thefuSeIage frame at 'aipointor points below ,the level of the direct Vconnection and connected to the wing-spars. Y q 4C. In a monoplane a fuselage and cantilever wings the spar-sof which are attached to the fuselage by means of ka three point con-` nection, one of said points being located on the upper spar edge adjacent to thefuselage and the inner end vthereoef, another of said points being located on the lower ,spar edge and the third point being situated on the fuselage frame substantially below theV level of the first mentioned connection point, the second'and third points being connected by a tie member, the third point of connection beunderside Vof the ing supported wholly eXteriorly of the fuse-V .by a tie member, the two connection pointslocated on the upper-and loweredges respectively of each spar being interconnected by aA straight tie.

at rits root end than kat its tip-end and being connected with the fuselage by means yof a three point connection. one of these connections being located on the upper spar edge adjacent to the fuselage, another being on the lower spar edge removed slightly from the fuselage, while thethird connecting point is situated at a substantial distance below the level of the first connecting point, the second and third points being connected by a strut,V which is entirely supported exterior ofthe fuselage, and the wing roots havingthick aerodynamicallv eflicient sections which in conjunction with the intermediate fuselage effeet an etlicient distribution of buoyancy over the whole wing span. 1 7. A monoplane of the character'set forth in claim 6 wherein the struts running fromV the fuselage to they lower edges of the spars are connected at different points with the fuselage. 1 8. A monoplane of the cantilever type having the wing halves discontinuous at the fuselage and attached to the sides thereof and having at least two longitudinal spars, each longitudinal spar being substantially thicker at its root end than at its tip end and `being connected with the fuselage by means of a'three point connection, one of these connections bef coveringof transparent material.

'to` theffuselage, another being on-Lthe lower Q spar edgelremovedislightly from` the' fusej-V 'i lage,i`while the'thi-rd connectingpoint is-V situ- "i ated at a substantialdistance-below the'. level of the first iconnectingfvpoint, the second-and ythirdpoints being connected by a strut and the Ywinglroots having thick aerodynamically efficient sections which in conjunctioni'with the intermediate fuselage effect anefiicient Ydistribution of buoyancyy over thewholewing span, the lower edges of the sparsof a Wing half being: connected withfthe` fuselage at -asingle point.v Y Y :f 9.y A monoplane of the cantilever type having the wing halvesdiscontinuous kat the fuse# lage andattached to Athe sides-thereofL and having lat' least :two longitudinal vsps'irsfeach 1kk longitudinal spar beingV substantially thicker 'at' its root end than at its tip end andnbeing-l connected with thefuselage-by means ofajv three point connection,.one of these connecf tions being located onSthe/upper sparfedge y adjacent tothe fuselage, another being on, the

lower spar 'edge removedslightly fromVv the fuselage, ,while the third connecting pointis situated at aV substantial distance below the lever ofthe 4first connecting point, the second-- and third points being connected by a-lstvrutgy and the wingroots having thickY aerodynam-Y icallyefficient sections which in conjunction with the intermediate fuselage eifectan eficient distribution of buoyancy over the whole wing span, the lower edgesof the wing' spare of both wing halves beingconnected with the fuselage at a single point. f, 1- a ,y

10; A'monoplane ofthe character setforth ion in claim 6 wherein thefourbracingr strutsfof I both wing halves'meet in one single pOIlt 0f f 353:1.'A` monoplane lofthe cantilever type having the/wing halves discontinuous at the* fuselage and attached tothe sidesthereof' and having atleast two .longitudinal spars, eachV is situated ata substantial distancelbelow'the 'i level ofthe first connecting point, the secondV and third points beingconnected strut l120= and the wingroots having thick aerodynamically efficient sections which in conjunction cient distribution of buoyancy overgthe whole wing span, the wing rootsbetweenthe connecting points of the spars tapering inward-7 with'the intermediate fuselage eect an eflily the wing sections being supplemented Y in claim 4 wherein the upper edges of the lon-y "gitudinalsparsfareattached,.directly'to the` i upper edge ofthe fuselagewhilethe loWer Y edges Cof the longitudinal spars are .directly braced against the fuselagebottom"edge,'AV

Vfi)

13. In an airplanea fuselage a pairof YWinghalves discontinuous at the fuselage and attached 'thereto Withthe upper surface of the Wing halves fairi'ng' into the upper vpart i of the yfuselage each Wing spar'beingconnect- Y ed tothefuselage by.` means lof a direct connection atthe upper edge and inner end thereof, andiindirectlyconnected to the fuselage Y through an inaerinediate connecting force transmitting member leading from the under side of the `root portion ofthe Wing down- Wardly to the fuselage'frame and Wholly sup'-v ported eXteriorly thereof.

i 14. In an airplane,y a fuselage, va pair of Wing-halves discontinuous at. the fuselage and attached thereto with the upper surface of the Wing halves fairing into-theupper part of the fuselage, eachwing spar being connected to the fuselage by means of aV direct conc nection at the upperedge and inner end thereof, and indirectly'connected to the fuselage through an intermediate connecting forcel transmitting member leading fromtheunder side ofthe Yroot portionof thewing down- Wardly to thefuselage frame, the Wing'lralves and attached thereto with theupper surface *of the Wing halves fairinginto the upper part having thick Wing roots andtapering both in vvidth'andY depth Atowards theV tips, With the portions of the Wing roots between the fuse-V v lage and the lower' connecting points Yof' the spars tapering off. f c c 1 `15. In an airplane, a fuselage, a pair of Wing halves discontinuous :at the fuselage 'y lof the fuselage, each Wingspar being connect@ ed to the fuselage by means of a direct connection at the upper edge and inner end there of, land indirectly connected to the fuselage through an` intermediate connecting force transmitting member leading from the under 'side of the root lportion .of the fvving downwardly to the fuselage frame, the Wing halves having thick Wing roots and tapering botliin l Width and depthtowards the tips, With force ,p i transmitting means connecting the upper kand Vlowerconnecting points of the spars.

In Vtestimony'Whereo,f have signed my name to this specification. i

fADoLF ROHRBAGH'. i Y 

